This discussion focused on how to reduce the loss of chapter members through burn-out, loss of interest, personal conflict, etc. The meeting was facilitated through the use of a mind-map ([http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Keeping_chapter_volunteers_active_WMConf_2013.jpg picture here])

This discussion focused on how to reduce the loss of chapter members through burn-out, loss of interest, personal conflict, etc. The meeting was facilitated through the use of a mind-map ([http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Keeping_chapter_volunteers_active_WMConf_2013.jpg picture here])

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(discussion to follow)

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Briefly, we identified different types of contributor, and different reasons for contributors becoming inactive, and discussed ways to avoid that.

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The central themes identified were:

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* Recognition of contributors' efforts and achievements.

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* Ensuring that contributors are able to achieve useful results in the projects, by

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** Ensuring that they have the necessary competencies, if necessary through training or mentorship

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** Selecting the right people to lead projects, especially when the price of failure is high

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* Increasing the probability that volunteers will return after burnout, for example by making it an option to leave for a time with thanks and the expectation that they will return later

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* Understanding the personal motivations of contributors

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==Funds Dissemination Committee process==

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This session provided plenty of insight into how the FDC operates, and what chapters should be aware of when applying for and managing funds.

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Key take-outs were:

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* The FDC provides program funding:

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** The application covers the chapter's entire program for a whole year, with special exceptions for lobbying activity which legally needs to be handled separately.

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** It cannot co-exist with GAC funding: all project funding must fall under the FDC application.

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** Any separate sources of funding must be listed in the FDC application (e.g. $1k from Ford Foundation to cover Project X, total program cost including Project X is $3k, so request is for the remaining $2k)

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* Proper fund management is crucial:

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** All spending must be accounted for honestly and completely.

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** Funds may be reallocated, with good reasons given, for example if one project is highly successful and needs increased funding, while another is unsuccessful, funds may be moved between these two projects.

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* There are two rounds of funding, but you apply in one round or the other, not both, and your total budget cannot change.

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* Partial funding is often given, but it is a very bad idea to inflate your budget on the assumption of partial funding, because this can make your budget unrealistic and less likely to be funded.

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* FDC application is extremely hard work, especially for small chapters. It's much better to get individual project grants first and build capacity that way.

There was a discussion about groupings that could have different relationships with the WMF than being a registered chapter, namely user groups, thematic organisations and Movement Partners.

User groups are groups of Wikimedia users who share some connection, for example geographical, cultural, or special interest. They would not be recognized if they were in conflict with, or attempted to duplicate the work of, an existing chapter, or if their goal was to push a point of view (e.g. a political party user group). They would also be a lighter form of organisation: they would not need to be registered non-profit organisations, and therefore would not have some of the rights of chapters (e.g. trademark use)

Thematic organisations can be formed and operated in a way similar to how chapters currently work, and could have a very similar relationship to the WMF, including use of trademarks, but would differ from chapters by not being country or regional groupings: they might be language or cultural organisations, for example.

Movement Partners would be organisations like OpenStreetMap who share many of our aims, but are separate entities with different projects.

There was significant discussion of the roles and division of these types of organisation, and this discussion will be continued at Wikimania in Hong Kong.

This discussion focused on how to reduce the loss of chapter members through burn-out, loss of interest, personal conflict, etc. The meeting was facilitated through the use of a mind-map (picture here)

Briefly, we identified different types of contributor, and different reasons for contributors becoming inactive, and discussed ways to avoid that.

The central themes identified were:

Recognition of contributors' efforts and achievements.

Ensuring that contributors are able to achieve useful results in the projects, by

Ensuring that they have the necessary competencies, if necessary through training or mentorship

Selecting the right people to lead projects, especially when the price of failure is high

Increasing the probability that volunteers will return after burnout, for example by making it an option to leave for a time with thanks and the expectation that they will return later

This session provided plenty of insight into how the FDC operates, and what chapters should be aware of when applying for and managing funds.

Key take-outs were:

The FDC provides program funding:

The application covers the chapter's entire program for a whole year, with special exceptions for lobbying activity which legally needs to be handled separately.

It cannot co-exist with GAC funding: all project funding must fall under the FDC application.

Any separate sources of funding must be listed in the FDC application (e.g. $1k from Ford Foundation to cover Project X, total program cost including Project X is $3k, so request is for the remaining $2k)

Proper fund management is crucial:

All spending must be accounted for honestly and completely.

Funds may be reallocated, with good reasons given, for example if one project is highly successful and needs increased funding, while another is unsuccessful, funds may be moved between these two projects.

There are two rounds of funding, but you apply in one round or the other, not both, and your total budget cannot change.

Partial funding is often given, but it is a very bad idea to inflate your budget on the assumption of partial funding, because this can make your budget unrealistic and less likely to be funded.

FDC application is extremely hard work, especially for small chapters. It's much better to get individual project grants first and build capacity that way.